Sudharsan, Padikkal rebuild India A with unbeaten fifties

MACKAY: Rising youngsters Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal struck fighting fifties after Mukesh Kumar’s searing six-wicket haul to put India A in command with a 120-run lead against Australia A on day two of the first ‘Unofficial Test’ here on Friday.

Mukesh stole the show, claiming 6/46 to help India A restrict Australia A to 195 in its first innings but despite the Bengal seamer’s heroic efforts, the host secured a crucial 88-run lead. The visitor had scored 107 in its first essay.

India A once again suffered a jittery start in its second innings with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) and fellow opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (12) getting out cheaply to have India down to 30/2 in 8.5 overs.

Gaikwad, who fell for a golden duck in the first innings, this time nicked Fergus O’Neill to second slip where Cameron Bancroft took a low catch.

While Easwaran, who had notched up four consecutive first-class centuries to earn a spot in the senior team as cover for skipper Rohit Sharma for the upcoming Test series against Australia, once again fell cheaply, this time getting run out while backing up for Sai Sudharsan.

But thereafter Sudharsan and Padikkal showed fine temperament and soaked the pressure on the bouncy pitch to produce an unbroken 178-run stand for the third wicket to help India seize control.

Sudharsan hit nine boundaries in his 185-ball 96, while Padikkal was unbeaten on 80 from 167 balls, scoring five fours.

Padikkal played a patient yet composed knock, working the ball around for quick singles and capitalising on loose deliveries to reach his fifty.

At the other end, Sudharsan exhibited his range of shots, particularly adept at dispatching anything short, cutting and pulling with precision.

His well-timed boundaries, including a powerful pull past square leg and a fluent cover drive, allowed him to reach his own half-century as they took the team past 200.

India A now has an overall lead of 120 runs with two more days left in the four-day fixture.

The second and final unofficial Test is scheduled in Melbourne from November 7.

Earlier resuming at 99/4 on Day 2, overnight batters Nathan McSweeney (39) and Cooper Connolly (37) added 51 runs for the fifth wicket, the match’s first fifty-run stand.

Brief scores: India A 107 & 208/2 in 64 overs (Sai Sudharsan 96 batting, D Padikkal 80 batting) vs Australia A 195 in 62.4 overs (M Kumar 6/46, P Krishna 3/59)